OTTAWA, May 1 (Reuters) - The Canadian government, as expected, on Wednesday offered more financial assistance to canola seed farmers who have been hit by a Chinese ban on imports amid worsening ties between the two nations.

Agriculture Minister Marie-Claude Bibeau told reporters that for 2019, an existing aid program would offer all farmers as much as C$1 million, up from the current C$400,000. The interest free portion of loans to canola farmers only will rise to C$500,000 from C$100,000. (Reporting by David Ljunggren and Steve Scherer; Editing by Bernadette Baum)